(Hy)LIGHTS #39: ANT-MAN

OK, OK, OK!!! I know I’m late on this because I was supposed to catch this when it was just getting released but life and shit got in the way and now I saw it and I’m going to do a review on this.

Anyway……

HERE WE ARE, FOLKS!!!
The final movie of Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and after how people reacted towards Age of Ultron even though the movie was still good in my opinion and people really got their expectations to hyped for it that they disappointed themselves with it, people aren’t exactly that hyped for this because of many, many reasons that followed it.

Yes, folks, that movie is of course Ant-Man.

Before we get into the review, here’s the plot to the movie:

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang, an engineer who committed a crime he felt that was justified, is sent to prison, must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

We all know that Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End) was originally attached to write and direct the project as this has been a project he has been working on since 2006 but unfortunately in 2014 (a year before release), Wright left the project due to creative differences between him and Marvel and that left a lot of doubt that the movie wouldn’t be good or one of Marvel’s top movies in the MCU as they got in a new director Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Yes Man) and some re-writes of the script from Adam McKay and Paul Rudd.
Do I think Marvel made a mistake of not going with what Wright envisioned? Maybe. I would’ve loved to see what Wright could’ve done with Ant-Man but that’s the way life is, sometimes.

Is the movie still good despite that?

Yes. By comparison, this is one of Marvel’s smaller-scale movies since this is a solo movie introducing a new character on-screen before Phase 3 starts and another thing is….this is more of a heist film than an actual superhero movie and I know many people have been bitching about “SUPERHERO OVEREXPOSURE!!” or some shit like that but in here, it isn’t the whole traditional superhero layout but more of somebody trying to go straight in their life (that somebody being Scott Lang), getting a second chance and being Ant-Man was that key.

I will say for the movie, the dramatic elements between Scott and his daughter Cassie (which is a pretty name BTW *wink wink*) is one of the best moments in there along with Lang experiencing the powers of the suit and the visual wonder/aspect of how it’s used and when you shrink down, it’s like going into another perspective of our world. That and when you’re small, it’s a challenge to stay alive throughout.

There are middling parts about Hank Pym and his daughter Hope bickering about why she can’t use the suit; almost like “why the fuck can I USE THE SUIT, Dad!?” but it never seem whiny so not much problems there.

The villain, Darren Cross, might be the weakest villain of the MCU so far as it’s basically textbook take over the world, wants to be his mentor so bad it’s scary but not really and mostly EVILLLL!!!!

The comedy is hit or miss depending on what’s happening there. Usually it’ll be that when we come across Scott’s crew as they can either be funny or just not as interesting. Speaking of funny, Paul Rudd does a fantastic job as Lang and conveyed the role well with the comedy and the softer moments especially with the actress who played Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson). As bland and stereotypical Cross was, Corey Stoll did his best playing him.
Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly also made their roles good as Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne, respectively. Michael Pena playing one of Lang’s crew was more hit than miss but with some moments where the jokes fall flat and there is really nothing to say about T.I. in here and the other guy Kurt played by David Dastmalchian but they barely meant anything here. Other appearances include Bobby Cannavale, Wood Harris, Anthony Mackie making a cameo appearance as Sam Wilson / Falcon and hey, it’s everybody’s favorite on-screen mom for a few minutes, Judy Greer.

FINAL VERDICT: While Ant-Man is not a perfect movie, it is a fun flick that introduces a new character into the MCU and manages to accomplish a lot of action on a reduced measure. It’s not up there with Iron Man but it is adequately better than the Thor movies and The Incredible Hulk.

If I were to rank Phase 2, Ant-Man would be above Thor: The Dark World.
Followed by Iron Man 3, then Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy.

The small Ant-Man grew into having a score of

8/10 – SOLID B.

Now that Phase 2 is done, only…..5-6 months to Phase 3 with Civil War. I wonder how that’ll do.

Well, I’m MAK2.0 aka The Blue Hybrid, and I think I need to look deeper into the air to spot Ant-Man.